India's batting remains a cause for concern

Northampton, Aug 5: India's preparations for the crucial third Test against England suffered a setback today, with most of their frontline batsmen, barring Abhinav Mukund, failing to stand up to an average Northamptonshire attack here.

Comeback man Virender Sehwag (8), Gautam Gambhir (18), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2) and Suresh Raina (33) all failed to make the most of the last opportunity to get into some sort of form ahead of the Edgbaston game, which starts on August 10.

While Sehwag and Gambhir fell leg before wicket in the pre-lunch session, Dhoni and Raina departed in the final session after being squared up by Luke Evans''s lifting deliveries.

Dhoni forced himself into the middle after young Abhinav Mukund was made to retire hurt on his tea-time score of 113.

India's world-cup winning captain faced no less than 13 balls and came close to getting out on a couple of occasions.

Raina departed while trying to hook Evans, but only managed to edge one to the wicketkeeper.

Evans is a tall right-arm bowler but has not been considered good enough to make the first eleven for Northamptonshire, who incidentally are competing in Division 2 of County Championship.

Since the pitch could hardly be termed as hostile for batsmen, the mediocre display by a side, struggling to retain its numero uno status in Test cricket, is surely a grave cause for concern.